You weren't joking about camping near the river !!! you were nigh on in it
How do you rat the soft gas bags ?

Ok, ok! Hahahaha. Phil, it possibly wasn't the best place to camp! It did look pretty though. And I feel that I have unfinished business up there so if you are ever out that way for a spot of trail riding let me know, I will tag along.

As for the fuel cell. I have this one; Desert Fox (5L Fuel Cell)
I didn't pay that much though, mine worked out to £36 sterling. I have used and refuelled it maybe ten times now. It sits well with my gear. The shop who sold it to me did say they had had some ( BMW ) riders complain that it had split on them. I think maybe they didn't look after it well enough. The inner is a plastic bag, the outer is canvas. I guess if you kept folding it to store you may eventually break the inner. When I am not using it I roll it to store it in with the camping gear. For me it is good value and I trust it.

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Very exciting posts indeed, and great with some pictures too.

Hey, BigZee! Great report and good to know you're still out there. I'll defo be following your trip from now on.

Jealous? Moi!

Cheers

Simon

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Hello Simon. I hope everything is still going well in your neck of the woods. Still chilled out and only bothered by fools on motorcycles

Life is good out here, the road is a great place to call home. I think I will be Zimbabwe bound next. I aim to leave tomorrow, but have to get a couple of bits sorted first.




For anyone out here on a bike. Ray Wilson is the guy you need.
He and his family have been out here for a fair while, he is originally from England and runs KTM's only Zambia dealership. He is heavily involved with the motocross scene out here, so not just tied to KTM. He allowed me to use his workshop to do maintenance and obviously has the gear you need. They are based in Lusaka, all the details are on the web. A good guy to meet and good tea in the workshop!

Nice report a bit jealous as this is a trip I hope to undertake in the future. I have some unfinished business in Bulawayo.

Tramp put me on to this ride of yours a little while back, if I can help with anything in Zimbabwe let me know. Already trying to get you a bed and will let you . of any offers.

Enjoy the rest of the trip don't camp to close to rivers as it isn't the crocodiles you have to worry about it is the foraging Hippos

Zimtim, pm sent.

As for the hippos, you are right I should have known better. I did have the sense to drag some branches about and make a small boma, but in the great scheme of things it was still not my wisest campsite!

All great here thanks J. Envious!

Simon & Polly

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I will get you some info and PM you as soon as the HUBBs recquisite amount of post

PM replied

Update needed John

Ok chaps point taken, update time. In my last waffle I said I was off to Zimbabwe. So obviously I am still in Zambia! Back at the site I used last time. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, sometimes this travel malarkey makes up the rules for you!

I eventually left Lusaka bound for Lake Kariba with a couple of chaps from the camp. Cracking place! A few more days relaxing and then I found a route down to Vic Falls. The Lake Road................. Only spoken of in hushed voices by the locals................... a three day journey, they said............. if the road was passable! oooooooo!!!!!!!!! Has to be done then does,t it. Hahahahahahahahaha. Me, big tough adventure bike rider! Me, also a bit daft, should go well then........................................

I left in bright sun light with beautiful blue skies. Good trail, dry with some soft sand but no worries really. I soon lost sight of the lake as I plunged into the undergrowth. The satnav had a panic and lost the trail, no worries, way point set. To be honest it was wonderful, I was enjoying myself.

Now, why is it that when you drop a bike even in the middle of nowhere ther has to be 30 school kids watching? Oh how we laughed! So bike up, a little spurt just to get rid of my embarrassment and into the rain! Well when I say rain I mean deluge. Hmmmm, sort of takes the edge off things a bit. Then Tarmac! Out in the middle of nowhere! Right speed up and blast through the rain. Tarmac becomes good gravel, good gravel becomes bad gravel, then the road workers compound comes up. Now bad gravel becomes very bad trail and rivers. Lots of rivers!
It was good, very varied, very slippery and very wet. I passed many bridges, I even got to ride over a couple and some just sat there in the middle of nowhere dreaming of a day when they would be useful! I rode through many fords, unpacked the bike few times, took forest detours and walked the bike through a couple of the deeper rivers. Did I mention it was wet?

I wanted to put the tent up in the dry so I pushed on. I had a get out road logged for fuel and I hoped to be near it for the first night. Then I dropped the bike on an easy stream crossing! just too tired really. So campsite found! Tent up, bike up, brew on and rest. The storm was kind, it didn't start until late and then it really went for it! At least I was dry. The bike fell over in the night as the ground softened up.

So in the morning I had to do a carb strip. No problems, done between rain showers! Then I saw the game changer! A broken and cracked frame! Oh Bugger! My big tough adventure bike has a limp!

A very slow 20km to the good gravel, then a gentle 50km to the tarmac. Feeling the break whilst riding confirmed the frame was flexing a little. So back to Lusaka and the KTM dealer. Strange how the first thing he asked was what had I broken! Hahahahaha. Time for plan B.

Plan B, to follow......................................

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Can you post a pic of the break? Where did it fail?

Great to hear from you John - keep 'em coming

Simon & Polly

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Good luck with frame repair and the rains . I have been travelling around here since November , now in Zim on my way back to Cape Town to ship home .
If you get the chance go to South Luangwa , Marula Lodge Mfwe , great place to stay and much wildlife , spent 3 weeks there waiting for tyres .

Gareth

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